This is a remarkable article in the LA Times this holiday season. It was after Veteran's Day, but, as timely as any.
The West sometimes forgets there was a time when allies were Russians. There was a second front to WWII. Yes, there was D-Day. But, there was also the front that was first to collapse the advancement of Hilter. The Russian Front and this Thanksgiving I am grateful for their service and am proud Russian speaking veterans live comfortably in the USA.
This is a thought for time unending.
I come from a large family. We cling to each other dearly and there is a lot of talent within our group when we get together to celebrate the holidays. We decided to put together a family diary of our experience within the family.
I invite you to take this opportunity in time to reflect on your families. In the USA "Family" has a great deal of diversity. But, consider writing an essay that brings out the meaning of family and the impacts it has had on your life. Hopefully a great deal of love will be found. It is a heritage activity, at least that is what our family considers it. It will be put together and be a permanent record of the words, ideas, journeys and feelings that bound us so lightly through our entire lives.
The West sometimes forgets there was a time when allies were Russians. There was a second front to WWII. Yes, there was D-Day. But, there was also the front that was first to collapse the advancement of Hilter. The Russian Front and this Thanksgiving I am grateful for their service and am proud Russian speaking veterans live comfortably in the USA.
This is a thought for time unending.
I come from a large family. We cling to each other dearly and there is a lot of talent within our group when we get together to celebrate the holidays. We decided to put together a family diary of our experience within the family.
I invite you to take this opportunity in time to reflect on your families. In the USA "Family" has a great deal of diversity. But, consider writing an essay that brings out the meaning of family and the impacts it has had on your life. Hopefully a great deal of love will be found. It is a heritage activity, at least that is what our family considers it. It will be put together and be a permanent record of the words, ideas, journeys and feelings that bound us so lightly through our entire lives.
Good night and I am grateful for all of you that come here for a perspective that is more Middle Class than I would like to admit.
Happy Thanksgiving.
November 24, 2014
By Ann M. Simmons
...At its peak the group’s membership grew to more than 2,200 veterans. Today, that number has dropped to 400, 160 of whom served during World War II. Others are the children and widows of former servicemen.
Most of the Russian-speaking veterans fled the former Soviet Union for the United States, seeking to escape persecution because of their Jewish faith. All were hoping to find a better life for their families.
Now, as they move into their twilight years — the average age of the veterans is 92 — they worry that their association might die as their own lives expire.
“Before, we worried about getting citizenship for our members … teaching them English, housing,” said Yefim Stolyarsky, 91, the association’s president. “Now the concern is preserving contact among veterans, preserving the membership of the organization.”
Yevsey Epstein, 91, a medical forensics expert and native of Ukraine who served as commander of an anti-tank battalion in the Red Army, said he doubted it would be possible to preserve the legacy of the group.
“Our children and our grandchildren, they relate more to the United States and they don’t know what this group means,” he said.
The veterans meet twice a week to discuss issues in the community and to mingle. Because most of them speak limited English, they feel at home speaking Russian among their peers.
“I come and meet and socialize with people who understand me,” said Yulia Shikhleman, 81, the widow of a former Red Army officer and World War II veteran. “I can share with these people … tell them what’s going on with me. They listen to me. They comfort me.”...
